Vitamins and Supplements

Ideally, we should get all the vitamins and minerals we need from the food
that we eat. We tend to absorb nutrients more effectively if they’re in our food, rather than taken
via a tablet. However, due to modern farming methods causing a depletion of micro-nutrients
and our hectic lifestyles it may be difficult to obtain all the vitamins and minerals we need to
obtain an ideal diet. Supplementation to our diet therefore becomes necessary to maintain good
health.

With the supplements available at shops today, it’s possible for any of us to exceed the
recommended daily intake of many vitamins and minerals. But beware: more doesn’t always mean
better. If you take supplements, you need to know what you’re taking, and the possible
consequences. Research suggests, for example, that having more than 1.5 miligrams of
vitamin A every day over a period of years could make your bones weaker and more likely
to fracture. Taking large doses of vitamin C can cause stomach pain and diarrhoea.
With many vitamins and minerals, little evidence exists on the long-term benefits or
harms that may come with large regular doses.

There are circumstances, though, in which specific supplements are recommended. Pregnant women
are advised to take:

- 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, to reduce the chances of birth defects.
- A daily vitamin D supplement. This is also recommended for breastfeeding women.

Vitamins And Minerals Information from Nutriglow

For information about vitamins, please click on the vitamins page:here.